Local service guide
Tree cutting in Montgomery, AL: Hiring and Cleanup
Tree cutting in Montgomery starts with checking power-line involvement, verifying current Alabama Tree Surgery business credentials, and agreeing on the finished job before hiring. For work around Alabama Power lines, contact the utility for an evaluation; it says only line-clearance-qualified personnel should perform this work. Request a written quote identifying the trees, proposed cutting, stump work and debris removal. [2] [3]
Decide what you want the arborist to assess
Describe the problem before requesting a cutting price: a branch over the roof, a damaged tree, clearance for a project or uncertainty about keeping a tree. Request an assessment before authorizing removal if you want to explore alternatives. Have the assessor explain the proposed work and ask whether the price includes written findings.
Identify each tree in photographs and during the site visit. Agree on which branches or trees the crew will cut. For removal, specify the remaining stump height and whether the contractor will grind the stump, remove grindings, add soil or leave those tasks to you. Record anything you want to keep, including logs or chips and where the crew should place them.
Stay away from a fallen tree touching a power line and contact Alabama Power. The utility warns that downed lines may remain energized and tells customers to avoid touching or driving over them. Take photographs only from a safe location; do not approach the tree to inspect it or begin cleanup. [2]
Verify the current Alabama business credential
Alabama Agriculture and Industries issues Horticulture Professional Services Licenses to businesses offering Tree Surgery, identified as TS. The department’s guidance also specifies a certified operator for the corresponding category. Request the business credential, confirmation of the TS category and the operator’s name. Match the business name to the company preparing your contract. [3]
The department states that these licenses begin on October 1 and expire on September 30, with annual renewal. For work arranged in October 2026, request evidence covering the new license period. A document showing a September expiration needs a renewal check. The department lists its Horticulture contact at 334-240-7269 for questions. [3]
Request proof of liability insurance and ask about coverage for the crew performing the work. Identify any subcontractors and the person who will supervise them. Keep insurance questions separate from the state credential check, and resolve unanswered questions before agreeing to a start date.
Arrange utility evaluation before cutting near lines
Alabama Power says only line-clearance-qualified personnel should perform tree work around or adjacent to power lines and electrical equipment. Contact the utility to request an evaluation if its lines affect your proposed work. Have the contractor explain who will coordinate with the utility and what needs to happen before the crew starts. [2]
Clarify cleanup after utility storm restoration. Alabama Power says it cuts trees and brush so crews can replace damaged poles and lines and restore service after severe weather or other natural events. It assigns disposal of debris from that emergency operation to the property owner. Once the utility has addressed the electrical hazard, request a separate quote for the remaining wood and brush. [2]
Confirm disposal instead of assuming curbside pickup
Montgomery’s 311 debris page shows a December 4, 2013 update. Its posted guidance assigns contractors responsibility for debris from their private-property work and assigns landscaping trunk and stump removal to the contractor, tenant or owner. Treat this as older posted guidance and confirm current arrangements with the city before relying on pickup. Include hauling and disposal in your contractor’s written scope. [1]
The same older city page describes limb placement behind the curb and gives size references of less than four feet in length and eight inches in diameter. The chart expresses those dimensions in inches for comparison. Confirm current size rules and whether your contractor-generated debris qualifies before arranging any curbside placement. [1]
Have the bidder identify who will remove brush, large trunk sections and stump material. If you plan to retain wood, agree on piece sizes and a storage location. Resolve disposal exclusions before accepting the quote so you can compare the full job across bidders.
Compare quotes and prepare the work area
Request itemized quotes after a site visit. Give each bidder the same cutting and cleanup instructions. Compare equipment access, stump work, hauling, yard protection and payment terms. Request separate prices for optional tasks and a written explanation of circumstances that could change the agreed price.
Walk through the access route with the contractor. Discuss gate clearance, parked vehicles, fences, irrigation equipment and the loading area. Agree on where the crew can place equipment and how it will handle wet ground, including postponement or another access route. Confirm who will notify you if the schedule changes.
Before work starts, review the marked trees and clear the agreed route. Keep children and pets away from the work area. At completion, walk through the site with the supervisor and compare the result with your contract, including remaining debris, stump work and agreed yard restoration.
Limb dimensions in Montgomery’s 2013 curbside guidance
Local details that affect your job
October brings a license renewal check
Alabama’s Horticulture Professional Services license period begins October 1 and expires September 30. For an October booking, request the renewed TS-category business credential and certified operator information. Contact the department’s Horticulture staff at 334-240-7269 if you need help checking the documentation. [3]
Confirm the older Montgomery pickup guidance
The city’s posted debris guidance dates to December 2013. It describes limb size and placement rules while assigning contractors responsibility for debris from private-property work. Confirm current pickup arrangements with the city before leaving material behind the curb, and settle contractor hauling in the quote. [1]
Utility restoration can leave owner cleanup
For properties served by Alabama Power, its emergency-restoration guidance assigns disposal of resulting wood, limbs and debris to the property owner. Request a cleanup scope identifying what remains after the utility work and confirm utility coordination before a private crew returns. [2]
Choose the next step, confirming older city guidance
| Your situation | First step | Settle before work |
|---|---|---|
| Tree or limb touching an Alabama Power line | Stay away and contact Alabama Power | Utility response before approaching or arranging cleanup |
| Planned cutting around Alabama Power lines | Request a utility evaluation | Utility guidance on line-clearance-qualified personnel and coordination |
| Unsure whether to prune or remove | Request an assessment before authorizing cutting | Proposed scope, alternatives and any written findings |
| Considering city pickup after private tree work | Confirm current arrangements; the posted city guidance dates to 2013 | Contractor hauling, stump disposal and any permitted curbside placement |
| Debris left by utility emergency restoration | Arrange disposal after the utility addresses the electrical hazard | Owner disposal responsibility and the contractor’s remaining cleanup scope |
Your hiring checklist
- Photograph the trees from a safe location and describe the problem you want resolved.
- Request an assessment and identify the agreed trees or branches.
- Request current business credentials and certified operator information.
- Review insurance documents and identify the crew supervisor.
- Discuss utility evaluation and coordination if lines affect the work.
- Compare cutting, stump work and hauling under the same written scope.
- Agree on equipment access, wet-ground postponement and yard protection.
- Inspect the finished work and cleanup with the supervisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Alabama credential should a tree-surgery business have?
Request a current Horticulture Professional Services License covering Tree Surgery, or TS, and the certified operator information. Alabama Agriculture and Industries lists TS among the business license categories and specifies annual renewal. [3]
Can my usual tree company cut branches near power lines?
Contact Alabama Power for an evaluation if its lines are involved. The utility says only line-clearance-qualified personnel should perform tree work around or adjacent to power lines and electrical equipment. Have your contractor explain its qualifications and proposed utility coordination. [2]
Will Montgomery collect wood after a contractor removes my tree?
Confirm current arrangements with the city and include disposal in your quote. The city’s posted page dates to 2013 and assigns contractors responsibility for debris from private-property work. It also assigns landscaping trunk and stump removal to the contractor, tenant or owner. [1]
How should I compare tree-removal prices?
Have bidders inspect the same trees and quote the same finished result. Compare cutting, access, stump work, hauling and yard restoration. Request written exclusions and an explanation of what could change the price before authorizing work.
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.